Can-filling apparatus



W. L. JONES.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1551a.

A 1 423,944. Patented July 25, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

W. L. JONES.

CAN FILLING APPARATUSx APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.-1918.

Patented. July 25, 1922.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2- imme/141201,

WILLIAM naonns, or eannrronrs, onro.

CAN-FILLING AJPPARATUS.

Application filed January 23, 1918. Serial No. 213,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that VJILLIAIYi L. Jones, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Gallipolis, in the county of Gallia and State of Ohio, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates. to apparatus for filling cans ofvarying capacity with tomato pulp although it will be obvious that my improvement is capable of use in filling cans with practically anyother liquid. It is especially advantageous in the filling of five gallon cans, though one of the noteworthy characteristics of my invention resides in its adaptability for supplying cans of all sizes with the proper amount of liquid by extremely simple regulation.

The invention finds embodiment in a main reservoir above one Or more intermediate feed tanks. These intermediate feed tanks are designed to approximate the capacity of the cans to be filled and are provided with valve structure designedto cut off the sup ply to the intermediate tank when such intermediate tank is discharging and to admit the supply when the mtermediatetank is not discharging.

The control of the discharge fromithe intermediate tank is particularly novel. is applied in consecutive steps by the rising level of liquidin the cans being filled, as follows: First, the supply of air to the intermediate tank above the liquid therein is out oif'by the rising liquid in the can being filled, which slackens the discharge. Then, the dischargepart of this intermediate tank is covered by the rising liquid and the discharge is stopped. At any time after this, thedischarge Valve may be closed.

The intermediate tank may be provided with discharging nipples of any desired size. And the cans to be filled are mounted upon a platform which is vertically movable into and out of position for filling. The extent of this vertical movement and the length of these nipples may be. varied to regulate the quantity fed.

ture that may be utilized by me in carrying m invention into effect.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is a detail in section showing one of my intermediate tanks cut off from the main supply tank and feeding a full stream to a can.

Figure 4 is a similar detail in section showing the air pipe cut off by the rising liquid in the can and showing a consequent reduction of feed to the can. 7

Figure 5 is a similar detail showing the liquid in the can risen over the mouth of the feed nipple with a complete cessation of feed as a consequence.

Figure 6 is a similar detail showing intermediate tank cut ofi by its valve from sup-v plying the can and with its inlet valve open to receive liquid from the supply tank,

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the can supporting platform.

Figure 8 is aside elevation of the structure shown in Figure 7. i Figure 9 is a side elevation of this platform raised. V

.Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 7. i

In the drawings, my improvement is shown as comprising a main tankl beneath which 'is located-a series. of intermediate tanks 2 and a platform. The operation of.

this platform will be described later and it, will suffice to say that it isde'signed to support a tray for the reception of a plurality of cans which may be raised into receptive position by such platform.

The tank 1 is of considerable size and the intermediate tanks 2' are each of slightly greater capacity than thelargest cans that are to be filled. The tank leis: connected to each of the intermediate tanks 2 by a short pipe 3 having a rotatable valve at therein. The base of this tank 2 is provided with a similar pipe o having arotatable valve 6 therein and a discharge delivery nipple 7 which may be replaced-by nipples of varying sizes. 3 I

The valves 4 and 6 carry crank arms 8 and 9-to which are connected adjustably GX JQIISl ble links 10 and 11" whichare in turn connected to a cross piece 12 upon a controlling slidable shaft 13. The position of the valves 4- and 6 and their connection to this controlling shaft 13 is such that move-- ment of the shaft to either of its positions, indicated by full and dotted lines, will open one valve when the other is closed and vice versa.

Extending out of the upper end of each intermediate tank 2 is an air pipe 14 which passes upwardly to a point above the highest liquid level in the main tank 1 and then returns downwardly to a point adjacent the delivery nipple 7 terminating preferably about a half inch below the terminus of the delivery nipple 7.

The supporting platform for the cans generally designated carries a vertically movable platform 15 having rollers 16 disposed thereon for the reception of a tray 17. The vertically movable platform 15 is designed to receive the cans upon a tray when in lower position and to be elevated so as to bring such cans into receptive position with the discharge nipples of the intermediate tanks and the lower ends of the air pipes extending thereinto.

The movement into and out of receptive position may be effected by means of links 18 connected to wrist pins 19 adjustably clamped in guideways 20 of discs 21 by nuts 22. These discs 21 are mounted upon a shaft 23 which is oscillated for raising or lowering the platform 15 by means of a lever 24. On the shaft 23 is a counter-weight 25 which extends laterally from the shaft 23 when the platform is lowered but which moves downwardly into vertically pendant relation to the shaft during the raising of such platform, adding its weight to the force applied in raising the platform 15 and the lever 24: from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 7.

. The lever 24: is provided with a trigger mechanism comprising a main link 2'6slidably mounted upon such lever24 and having an offset end 27 which is adapted to fit alternately in the socket 28 or the socket 29 for looking the platform and lever in either raised or lowered position; This trigger mechanism further comprises a bell crank 30 connected by a link 31 to a lateral finger hold 32. It also has an extension which serves as a supplemental handle for operating the trigger mechanism.

The slidable member 26 of the trigger mechanism is normally pressed longitudinally by a spring and its ofiset or tongue end rides upon an arcute surface in be-.

tween the slots 28 and 29, automatically dropping into either slot when it reaches proper position. v

' In the operation of my apparatus, the cans upon a tray are placed upon lowered platform 15. The trigger of the lever is operated to raise the tongue 27 from its socket and thelever is lifted, with the assistance of the counter-weight to move the platform upwardly and bring the cans into receptive position. *When the upper position of the platform is reached, the trigger mechanism is released, the tongue 27 automatically springs into the socket 2S and the platform is thus locked in raised position.

When in this position, the nipple 7 and the lower end of the air pipe extend into each can a distance which has been predetermined. Then the controlling slidable shaft 13 is moved to close the valve l and open the valve 6. Liquid starts to pass through the valve 6 into the can in a full stream, air being expelled around the nipple and also passing upwardly through the air pipe l iinto the intermediate tank. This operation is shown in Figure 3. A full stream is delivered until the liquid in the can reaches and closes the lower end of the pipe lei, as shown in Figure 4-. When this happens, the air supply is cut off from the upper end of the intermediate tank, where upon the delivery of liquid to the can materially diminishes, developing in fact into a gurgling delivery. Shortly after this, the rising liquid in the can reaches and covers the delivery end of the nipple 7 VVhereupon further supply of liquid to the can automatically ceases, as indicated in Figure 5. At any time after this, the controlling shaft 13 may be moved to close the valve 6 and open the valve 4: bringing about a condition such as is shown in Figure 6. After this, the trigger mechanism upon the lever may be released to permit lowering of the can supporting platform, which is effected by the weight of the filled cans overbala-ncing the counter-weight 25. i

In will be obvious that I have provided can filling mechanism which measures practically without gauges or triggers set in advance. The supply of liquid is first diminished and then shut off completely, the whole measuring and computing operation being effected by the natural operation of filling the can. There is practically no waste and obviously the mechanism is 8X- tremely simple. No fclose lit between the nipple and can mouth is necessary. My device will operate as well on an open mouth can as on any other kind.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for filling cans comprising a main reservoir, a plurality of intermediate feed tanks positioned directly below said reservoir, a delivery nozzle for each feed tank, a separate inlet nozzle connecting each intermediate tank with said reservoir, valves controlling the said nozzles whereby when one set of nozzles is closed the other set is open, and a vent pipe extending from each intermediate tank to a point above the highestliquid level in said main reservoir and having its inlet end terminating immediately below the delivery nozzle of each intermediate tank and of such construction in relation to said delivery nozzle that it will enter the receptacle to be filled, whereby the filling of said receptacle will finally bring aboutcutting off of the intermediate tank from the atmosphere which will be immediately followed by a complete cessation of flow to the said receptacle bythe covering of the end of the said delivery nozzle.

2. Apparatus for filling cans comprising a main reservoir, an intermediate feed tank positioned directly below said reservoir, an inlet nozzle connecting said reservoir and said tank, a separate nozzle for discharging the liquid from said tank, valves controlling said nozzles and means connecting the valves whereby the opening of one will close the other, and a vent pipe for controlling the fiow of liquid in the intermediate tank,

7 one end of said pipe being connected to the top of the tank and extending from said tank to a point above the main reservoir and the other end terminating below the discharge nozzle of the tank.

3. 'Apparatus for filling cans comprising a main reservoir, a plurality of intermediate.

feed tanks, inlet nozzles connecting said reservcir and said tank, separate nozzles for dischargingthe liquid from said tanks, vent pipes for controlling the flow of liquid from each intermediate tank, one end of eachgof said pipes being connected to the top of each tank and extending from the tank to a point above the main reservoir and the other end terminating below the discharge nozzle of each tank, and a vertically movable and adjustable platform for moving the cans into filling position relative to said discharge nozzles and vent pipes.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature in the presence of two" witnesses.

WILLIAM L. JONES.

Witnesses:

ALTHEA G. FoLDnN,

GEORGE HAYNES. 

